History – Page 5 – Everton FC Heritage Society

01

Mar

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1920-1929, 1930-1939, Articles, Directors, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

The Life of Hunter Hart

Hunter Hart was always recognisable by a distinctive quiff which pre-dated that of Wolves' Billy Wright. He served Everton with distinction on the field in the 1920s and behind a desk in the 1930s but, unfortunately, his association with the club he loved was to end prematurely, as was his life. Born on Glasgow on 11 March 1897 to Alexander (a carter) and Jessie, Hart grew up less than half a mile from Celtic's stadium. By the age of 14, living in Shettleston, Lanarkshire, he had lost the sight in one eye, in what was described as 'a childhood accident'.…

28

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

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1980-1989, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Easy’ – The Mick Heaton Story

Mick Heaton was an ebullient and wholehearted full-back who captained Blackburn Rovers to promotion to the Second Division in 1975, later assisting player-manager Howard Kendall as the Ewood Park club came tantalizingly close to reaching the top flight in 1981. On Merseyside, he was a vital part of the managerial team which led Everton to an unprecedented period of glory. To a younger generation of football supporters, Mick’s name might not ring any bells, so, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of his untimely passing, this article celebrates his life and achievements. A Yorkshire Terrier James Michael Heaton was a…

Initials T.G. – Researching Tommy Jones, The Prince of Centre-Halves

25

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, 1940-1949, Books, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer, WW2

Initials T.G. – Researching Tommy Jones, The Prince of Centre-Halves

William Ralph “Dixie” Dean sits unchallenged as the king of Goodison Park. Joining him in the Royal Blue dynasty is the Prince of Centre Halves: Thomas George Jones. Tommy, as his friends knew him, was so famous in his pomp for Everton and Wales that he was known merely by his initials - T.G. Devouring Everton history books as a youngster, I would read of this artist in the Blues’ half-back line. Dominant in the air, immaculate on the ground and possessing a rocket-like shot, T.G. was so confident in his own ability that he would dribble in his own…

George Sharples Remembered by Rob Sawyer

25

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

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1960-1969, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

George Sharples Remembered by Rob Sawyer

George Sharples, who passed away on 14 December 2020, aged 77, had been one of nine surviving players to have played a part in Everton’s title-winning season of 1962-63 (the others being Jimmy Gabriel, Mick Meagan, John Morrissey, Derek Temple, Tony Kay, Billy Bingham, Ray Veall and Frank Wignall). George Sharples c.1961 A son of Ellesmere Port, he was born on 20 September 1943, to parents James and Florence, who ran a large and successful newsagent business in Overpool. A student at Wirral Grammar School – a rugby-playing establishment – George always had soccer as his first sporting love. He…

Goodison Park, a Greyhound Stadium and Walton Hall Park

25

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

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1920-1929, Articles, Goodison, History, Rob Sawyer

Goodison Park, a Greyhound Stadium and Walton Hall Park

The Lily Parr statue at the National Football Museum Everton and the Rise, Fall and Revival of Women’s Football This December marks a centenary of one of the most significant football matches played at Goodison Park – but it did not involve Everton FC. The participants were Preston’s Dick, Kerr Ladies FC and their St. Helens counterparts. The festive season match, in front of a record crowd for a women’s match, suggested that the women’s game was on the way to establishing itself as a mainstream spectator sport. 15 years later Dick, Kerr Ladies - rebadged as Preston Ladies -…

Tommy E Jones: A Gentleman on and off the Pitch

02

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, Articles, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Tommy E Jones: A Gentleman on and off the Pitch

The telegram was succinct: ‘Best of Luck — may everything go well for you'. It had been sent by Tommy G Jones — the exalted Prince of Centre-Halves — to his namesake, 20-year-old Tommy E Jones, who was debuting for the Everton first team against Arsenal on 6 September 1950. Tommy (often referred to as T E Jones in football circles — short for Thomas Edwin) would have the burden of succeeding the supremely gifted and ‘T G'. Nonetheless, he'd go on to carve out his own place in the Gwladys Street Hall of Fame. Looking back when interviewed for Three Sides of…

‘When Skies are Gray’ – Everton at Leicester in 1985

23

Jan

By Francis Hickey

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1980-1989, Articles, Francis Hickey, History, Members Work

‘When Skies are Gray’ – Everton at Leicester in 1985

Supporters of a certain age will remember Steve Lynex’s well-taken goal at Filbert Street on 23rd February 1985, in a match featuring numerous future teammates and TV pundits. On a cold afternoon, it sent an icy blast through Evertonian hearts. It was also the day on which an Everton legend grabbed the iconic number nine shirt for the first time since September, to change his goal scoring fortunes and steer the Blues towards glory. Everton’s squad depth was being tested by a season-ending injury to top scorer Adrian Heath and the absence of striker Graeme Sharp, injured in the FA…

Jack Keys and William Warmby — The Duo from Derby

20

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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1878-1889, 1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow

Jack Keys and William Warmby — The Duo from Derby

Jack Keys and William Warmby — The Duo from Derby In preparation for life in the Football League, Everton Football Club made several new signings during the summer of 1888. Two of them, Keys and Warmby, had joined from Derby County. Despite the fact that the local newspapers made no reference to their background, they were in fact related by marriage and had reached the Mersey seaport by two slightly different routes. William Henry Warmby was born in 1863 in South Yorkshire, where he began his football career with his local team, Rotherham Town. Some time around 1883 he moved…

12

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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1878-1889, Articles, History, Managers, Members Work, Tony Onslow

In Search of John Houlding

This article is not intended either to praise or to condemn John Houlding for the role he played in the decision made by Everton Football Club to move away from Anfield. It is merely an effort to try and throw some light on this 'larger than life character' who played a big part in establishing the game of Association Football in his home town of Liverpool. Local records reveal that John Houlding was baptised on 4 August 1833 at St Martin-in the-Field church. He was the second of three sons born to Thomas Houlding, a cow keeper, and his wife…

11

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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1878-1889, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowOswestry FC

John Roach, a Striker from Shropshire

The main engineering works of The Cambrian Railway Company - today a grade two listed building - once employed many of the people who lived in the Welsh Marches town of Oswestry, and provided the local football team with several players. One such person, who also represented Everton, was John Roach. John Roach's home in LorneSt (left) and the Railway Works (far right) Born April 1863, he was the third child of Martin, a labourer, and his wife Bridget, who together had moved to Shropshire from their birthplace in the County Mayo across the Irish Sea. John had begun to work as a blacksmiths striker, in the foundry of the Cambrian Company, when he started playing football for the Oswestry White Stars, who shared a ground with the local cricket club. On 29 December 1883, the little Shropshire club found themselves in the limelight, having received a home FA Cup draw with the famous Queens Park club from Glasgow, who were renowned for playing quality football with…